BoSox Injection
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Former Red Sox listed among ESPN’s top 100 MLB players of all time

By Sean Penney

Boston Red Sox David Ortiz (R) is congratulated his solo homer by teammate Manny Ramirez in the top of the first innings against Japan's Hanshin Tigers in an exhibition game in the Tokyo Dome on March 22, 2008.The Boston Red Sox managed a narrow 6-5 victory against Tigers in an exhibition game here, days ahead of the official season opening games against the Oakland Athletics. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)
Boston Red Sox David Ortiz (R) is congratulated his solo homer by teammate Manny Ramirez in the top of the first innings against Japan's Hanshin Tigers in an exhibition game in the Tokyo Dome on March 22, 2008.The Boston Red Sox managed a narrow 6-5 victory against Tigers in an exhibition game here, days ahead of the official season opening games against the Oakland Athletics. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – JULY 28: The pitching mound is seen during first game of a doubleheader between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on July 28, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JULY 28: The pitching mound is seen during first game of a doubleheader between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on July 28, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /

Red Sox pitcher Lefty Grove – No. 54

Lefty Grove was only the third pitcher to win an MVP when he beat out Lou Gehrig for the award in 1931. Grove had already captured five ERA titles along with that MVP trophy with the Philadelphia A’s before arriving in Boston in 1934.

The lefty wasn’t done dominating on the mound though, leading the league with 24 wins during his first year with the Red Sox and winning four more ERA titles in his final eight seasons.

Grove was a 300-game winner who owned a career 3.06 ERA. The six-time All-Star won the pitching Triple Crown twice and led the league in strikeouts in each of his first seven seasons. He led the league in complete games three times and tossed 20+ complete games nine times.

Grove was the ace of the A’s pitching staff for three pennant winners, two of which went on to win the World Series. He was 4-2 with a 1.75 ERA in eight postseason appearances.

His best years were with the A’s but Grove still won 105 games in Boston. His 34.6 fWAR is fourth among pitchers in Red Sox history and his 88.8 career fWAR is 12th in major league history.

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